Hips Don't Lie – English Lyrics
Lyrics & Translation
Dive into the vibrant world of Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" featuring Wyclef Jean, a global anthem blending Latin rhythms with irresistible energy. While the song is predominantly in English, it offers a playful introduction to Spanish with simple, flirtatious phrases like *'bonita'* and *'como se llama,'* making it a fun entry point to engage with the language through its infectious dance beat.
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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dance /dɑːns/ A1 |
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speak /spiːk/ A1 |
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body /ˈbɒdi/ A1 |
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hips /hɪps/ B1 |
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lie /laɪ/ A2 |
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feel /fiːl/ A1 |
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come /kʌm/ A1 |
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slow /sləʊ/ A1 |
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perfection /pəˈfekʃən/ B2 |
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move /muːv/ A1 |
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crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2 |
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idea /aɪˈdɪə/ A2 |
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shake /ʃeɪk/ A2 |
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wise /waɪz/ A2 |
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mad /mæd/ A2 |
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talk /tɔːk/ A1 |
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know /nəʊ/ A1 |
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attraction /əˈtrækʃən/ B1 |
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tension /ˈtenʃən/ B1 |
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unexpected /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/ B2 |
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Do you remember what “dance” or “speak” means in "Hips Don't Lie"?
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Key Grammar Structures
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I never really knew that she could dance like this
➔ Past Simple tense
➔ The song uses the "knew" in past simple to describe a previous state of lack of knowledge, followed by a that-clause.
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You make a woman go mad
➔ Present Simple tense
➔ This line employs "make" in present simple for a general action causing madness, typical in songs for timeless statements.
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I'm on tonight
➔ Present Continuous tense
➔ The "'m on" indicates a current or temporary state using present continuous, highlighting the moment of being "on."
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Don't you see, baby, this is perfection?
➔ Negative question in Present Simple
➔ The "Don't you see" forms a tag-like negative question using present simple to engage the listener emphatically.
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And I am starting to feel you, boy
➔ Present Continuous with infinitive
➔ The "am starting" in present continuous shows a gradual process, leading into "to feel," using infinitive for the beginning action.
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Come on, let's go, real slow
➔ Imperative with let's
➔ The "Come on, let's go" uses imperative "come" and "let's" for inclusion, with "real slow" as an adverb modifying the speed.
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The way you move your body, girl
➔ Defining relative clause
➔ The "way" introduces a defining relative clause where the clause provides essential information about the noun, no comma separating it.
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So be wise and keep on Reading the signs of my body
➔ Imperative with gerund
➔ The "be wise" and "keep on reading" use imperatives; "reading" is a gerund after "keep on," indicating a continuing action.
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If I know I am on tonight, my hips don't lie
➔ Zero conditional
➔ The "If I know... hips don't lie" is a zero conditional using present simple for facts: if condition (know) is true, result (don't lie) always happens.
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And I'm starting to feel it's right
➔ Present Continuous with objective clause
➔ The "I'm starting" uses present continuous for ongoing change, with "it's right" as an objective clause acting as the object of "feel."
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